Very often, a restaurant will succeed or fail based on your choices as an owner. One of the most common mistakes a restaurant owner will make is underestimating his or her direct competition in the chosen location. Believing that you have the best restaurant within a mile of your location, and convincing the public of this fact are two different things. You may well be the best restaurant, but unless you put the rears in the seats, you will fail. Here are a few things that your competitor is doing right now, as you read this.

1. Make a complete and detailed survey of your areas demographics and then cater to it
2. Research the competition within one mile in any direction
3. Offer something no one else offers but everyone wants
4. Actively self-promote

In This Corner

These four basic steps are what make your competition the best restaurants in their area. Once you take these steps, if your food is good and your customer service is better, you will take the number one spot. Of course, you cannot rest when you hit the top spot so save some magic for the title fights as well.

Demographics Are Your Core

A complete and detailed survey of your areas demographics will tell you who your immediate target audience is. You will get business from all over town on Fridays and Saturday nights, those are your money nights, but the backbone of a restaurant is its ability to survive despite the money nights. Ask yourself this, if you take those two nights out of the equation, could you keep your doors open? Who lives or works within one mile in any direction and what do they enjoy? What time of day do they like to visit? Students keep different hours than working families. High school students enjoy different foods than college students. Businesses eat big lunches and low-income families crave different food than jet setters. Who is your target audience?

Enemies At The Registers

A successful restaurant owner eats more meals at his competition\’s restaurant than he or she does at their own. You have heard the phrase, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. How do you know what your competition is doing if you do not visit their establishment and eat their food? You can bet that they are eating yours. When you get to know your competition, ask yourself what it is that they do not offer that you could and succeed. What can you do that will make your establishment stand out. It really does not matter what it is, as long as it is something that your demographic will enjoy and your competitor has not tried. Whether this is a printable coupon or a neighborhood event, go for it and watch your loyalty base rise.

Distinguish Yourself In Your Community

Do you actively self promote your restaurant within the community? Never mind if you have ads in local media. Television and newspapers are great for citywide exposure. What do you do in your community that says to your neighbors that you want them to visit? There are numerous things that you can do to endear yourself to your community including charity events and neighborhood improvement activities. This is especially helpful if you do something on a regular basis that helps children or the elderly in your immediate community.

Author Bio: For more information please visit our food inventory website.

Category: Food and Drinks
Keywords: Food,Customer Service,Restaurant,food inventory,Business Plan ,Give Away,Restaurant\\\’s Inventory